Her fingers still, then she pulls away enough to look down at me.
“About what?”
“You.” My fingers drift to the right above her hips, then tighten. “He said he should’ve stayed out of it. That he could see them—he and mom—in us.”
Her eyes widen. “Oh.”
“That’s not all.”
I’m selfish, but I don’t want to say the words. We were supposed to have a year to figure it out, and that just disappeared. Never mind that I think I stopped wanting that a month ago, on our wedding day. Chloe’s got more to factor in than I do. She’s got Phoebe.
The farm is safe.
Chloe’s business is thriving here. Despite what she thinks, it would thrive anywhere she goes because she’s the magic behind it. Her attitude, her drive, her talent—and I’m waiting on her to finally figure it out.
I know we love each other, so I don’t know why I’m terrified that she might not want to stay. Or that maybe, she imagines a future without me in it.
I can’t imagine one without her or Phoebe. They’re practically part of my identity at this point. I love them both more than I could ever say.
Which is exactly why I have to say the hardest words I’ve ever said to her. She deserves to choose, to experience the freedom without Dad’s clause.
“He changed the will, Chloe,” I say, quietly. “The marriage clause wasn’t a requirement. It was gone, and we missed it.”
Her breath escapes in a whoosh.
“What do you mean it wasn’t a requirement?” she whispers. “That’s why we got married.”
“I know.”
The truth settles between us, heavy.
She exhales slowly. “So… what does this mean?”
I want it to mean nothing.
I want it to mean we chose something that was always inevitable anyway. The clause just forced us out of our heads, and all the reasons we could’ve talked ourselves out of it. We had to jump first, then sort through everything else later.
And I’ve loved sorting through the details with her.
Every last one.
“It means,” I say carefully, “you never had to choose this.”
Her gaze lifts to mine, something unsteady flickering there. “I didn’t feel forced, Aiden. I chose this on my own…I just need to understand what the choice was built on.”
But her voice isn’t steady, and neither are the words.
She said she chosethis,not that she chose me. I let it sting for a minute before it rolls off my back, because I know Chloe is already rearranging the pieces. Only she’s looking at a whole different puzzle.
She’s tough, but there’s genuine concern on her face.
And knowing my wife, she’s trying to convince herself that this won’t erase her, or make her less valuable to every inch of the space she takes up.
Outside, snow slides off the roof in a soft rush. The house settles, oblivious.
“I don’t regret marrying you,” she says quietly. “I just… need to understand what these changes mean.”
I want to tell her it means nothing. I’m still all in.
